“War Is at Home Right Now in Nigeria” — Missionary Raises Alarm Over Pattern of Violence Across Multiple States

An American missionary and humanitarian worker, Alex Barbir, has described ongoing attacks across Nigeria as part of a sustained wave of coordinated violence affecting several regions, following recent killings in Plateau State.

Barbir made the remarks during an interview on News Central Television while reacting to fresh attacks in Plateau State that left more than 26 people dead, according to reported figures from affected communities.

He said the violence he has encountered since arriving in Nigeria reflects repeated and widespread attacks across different locations rather than isolated incidents.

Barbir referenced earlier experiences in rural communities, including Miango and Ziki, where he said he witnessed deadly attacks and large-scale destruction. He also described how recent violence in Jos occurred close to where he was staying, allowing him to reach the scene within minutes.

According to him, the frequency of such incidents has created a pattern that is difficult to separate from broader insecurity affecting multiple states.

Barbir rejected the view that the attacks are random criminal acts. He said incidents in areas such as Barkin Ladi and Bokkos indicate coordinated operations involving simultaneous assaults on multiple villages.

He noted that repeated raids on rural communities in Plateau State suggest planning and organization rather than isolated violence carried out by small groups.

In his words, “War is at home right now in Nigeria,” arguing that the scale of insecurity and the deployment of security forces across the country point to a situation that goes beyond ordinary crime.

Barbir added that both Christian and Muslim communities have suffered casualties in different incidents, stressing that the violence affects civilians broadly regardless of religion.

He also spoke about reconstruction efforts in parts of Kwara State, where he said he had been involved in attempts to rebuild communities affected by earlier attacks. According to him, some of these areas remain too unstable for reconstruction work to proceed safely.

The missionary further referenced continued insecurity in northern Nigeria, including Niger State, Zamfara State, and Sokoto State, where armed groups have carried out repeated raids, kidnappings, and attacks on rural settlements.

He maintained that the scale and coordination of these incidents point to a structured pattern of violence spanning multiple regions, rather than isolated outbreaks of crime.